|
Roman Women
Roman
Women could not transact
any business of importance without the agreement of their father,
husband or guardian (guardians were normally male relatives)
*** Guardianship was no longer
applied to women whose father and husband had died and who had
already borne three children
Paternal power:
A father
had the power of life and death over his children. He could not only
expose them when infants, but when grown up he might imprison,
scourge, send them bound to work in the country, and also put them
to death by any punishment he pleased as decreed by the laws in the
Twelve Tables
***
Women did not have the right to choose her own
husband. Marriages were arranged by the father
Roman Women could not
partake of magistracies, priesthoods, triumphs, badges of office or
receive gifts, or spoils of war. Elegance, finery, and beautiful
clothes were the women's badges ***
Only married women were permitted to wear the
stola
A woman could not be a witness or act as a
surety, a tutor or a curator
A woman could not adopt or be adopted
A woman could not make a will or contract
Upon her death the property of a woman with no
direct heir dies passed to her nearest male relative
Women and Marriage: The original form of marriage
with 'manus' meant that all the goods of the wife passed to the
ownership of the husband. A married woman was no longer permitted to
possess anything in her own name. In the later form of marriage
marriage 'without manus' only the dowry became the property of the
husband. The wife remained mistress of all her other belongings and
all that she might acquire
In the home the woman was mistress and equal to
her husband, joining guests at meals attending festivals etc.
Women were allowed to go out alone and attend the
theatre and gladiatorial games
Roman women were
certainly restricted by many aspects o Roman Law but once
they were married the enjoyed far more freedom than the
Greek women did.
Roman Women - Marriage
Roman women entered into
arranged marriages. Contracts between families were drawn up
at a very early age. Young girls were therefore expected to
live highly morale lives. If a girl was discovered flirting
this would be seen in breach of the betrothal contract.
Dowries were settled according to the wealth and status of
her family. A girl from a good patrician family was seen as
a good political 'catch' benefiting the aspirations of her
husband. In the home the woman was mistress and equal to her
husband, joining guests at meals and attending festivals etc.
Wives were expected to act with some decorum and would
generally sit upright during meals rather than adopt
reclining positions. The wives of Romans during the period
of Empire were allowed to drink wine but never to join in
drinking parties. In many households it would be the wife who would oversee
the slaves, ensuring the smooth running and discipline
within the household. Romans allowed married women far more
freedom than the Greeks, who virtually imprisoned their
wives at home. Roman wives were not expected to live secluded lives
and
could freely receive visitors and leave the house on visits
to other
households or on shopping expeditions.
Roman Marriage
Roman Women - Education
Roman Women
enjoyed a similar, if not the same education as boys in
early childhood. As young men went on to learn about law and
rhetoric the women were expected to learn how to run a
household, play musical instruments and to study poems and
literature. A Roman woman was expected to support the
political aspirations of her family although she could not
become directly involved.
Roles and Jobs of Roman Women
The role of the vast
majority of Roman Women
was as the supportive wife to her husband. However, some
free Roman women did perform duties and the roles of
teachers, secretaries and saleswomen. There is also evidence
of female doctors. One of the most surprising of all roles
or jobs undertaken by women were that of
Female
Gladiators.
Roman Women
The content of this Roman Women
category on life in Ancient Rome provides free educational
details, facts and information for reference and research
for schools, colleges and homework. Refer to the
Colosseum Sitemap for a comprehensive search on interesting
different categories containing the history, facts and
information about Ancient Rome.
|
